Fono Briefs
by Fili Sagapolutele
and La Poasa
Samoa News Reporters
BILL TO BAN
POLITICAL SIGNS RETURNED TO COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER REVIEW
A bill that would
prohibit the public display of political campaign signs, such
as billboards and display illustrations has been returned to
the Senate Government Operations Committee for further review.
The bill, sponsored
by Sens. Pulefa'asisina Tuiasosopo and Alo Dr. Paul Stevenson,
was presented yesterday to the floor for a second reading vote,
as recommended by the committee.
Committee chairman
Sen. Fiatauiaualava I. Sauni said Chief Election Officer Soliai
Tuipine, who appeared at a hearing last month, supports the measure
as a way to keep the peace and harmony within villages during
the election season because of past problems.
Sen. Tuaolo M.
Fruean questioned who would have the authority to infringe on
a person's right to put political signs on their own property
if the measure becomes law. He also questioned what would the
penalties be if the provisions of the legislation is violated.
At present, the
bill does not provide for penalties and Alo said there should
be an enforcement process to include an agency to enforce provisions
of the legislation.
He noted that
the bill is very important because it aims to prevent conflicts
or tensions within the villages during election time. He said
his district of Ituau had faced such conflicts during past elections.
Later in the
session, Fiatauiaulava said a hearing will be held sometime next
week with Soliai to discuss, among other things, penalties to
be included in the legislation.
SENATE ENDORSES
RESOLUTION PAYING TRIBUTE TO FORMER ITUAU REP
The Senate yesterday
approved a House Concurrent Resolution paying tribute to former
Ituau Rep. Mataali'i Tofu Tita'e Fia, who died on Feb. 20.
A former Agriculture
Department director during the time of Gov. A.P. Lutali, Mataali'i
served the Ituau District during the 24th Legislature.
He is survived
by his wife, Falei'ila Va'a Fia, his children and grandchildren.
HOUSE TO HEAR
FROM ASPA TODAY ABOUT SERVICES TO AUNU'U
The House ASPA
Committee, chaired by Rep. Manu Talamoa, is scheduled to hear
from ASPA officials this morning about power services to the
island.
Complaints about
power outages and loss of foodstuffs due to these outages on
Aunu'u were heard last week in the House.
Scheduled to
testify at the hearing are ASPA chief executive officer and general
counsel Mike Keyser and ASPA official John Utu.
HOUSE SET
TO REVIEW USMLE LEGISLATION ON MONDAY
The House Health/Hospital
Authority, chaired by Rep. Paopaoailua J. Fiaui, is scheduled
to hold a hearing on Monday, March 17 to review a Senate bill
that would 'grandfather in' non-U.S. certified doctors working
at LBJ Medical Center, thus exempting them from taking the U.S.
Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE).
At Tuesday's
House session, Paopaoailua told the House clerk to summon representatives
of the American Samoa Medical Association and their attorney,
Jennifer Joneson, to give testimony.
He said the hearing
is also open to anyone who wants to comment on this issue.
The bill, which
was initiated by the Senate, provides among other things that
individuals holding a license to practice medicine or dentistry
issued by the Health Services Regulatory Board (HSRB) on or prior
to Dec. 17, 2007 shall be considered "as qualified heath
care personnel, having met standards of education, training and
experience acceptable for licensing in American Samoa and shall
be deemed duly licensed..."
The bill also
makes changes to the qualifications of the LBJ board of directors
as well as the Health Regulatory Services Board, which oversees
the licensing of doctors.
LEGISLATION
TO ESTABLISH A HOLIDAY FOR MOTHERS SET FOR A HEARING FRIDAY
A bill proposing
a holiday to recognize mothers in the territory will be reviewed
at a hearing scheduled for Friday.
The legislation
is sponsored by House Reps. Fiasili Pun E. Haleck and Mary L.M.
Taufete'e - the only female lawmakers serving in the current
legislature.
The bill proposes
that the Monday after Mother's Day be recognized as the official
Mother's Day holiday.
The bill will
become effective once it is passed by the Fono and signed by
the governor.
The House Rules
Committee, chaired by Vice Speaker Agaoleatu Charlie Tautolo,
will review the proposal on Friday. Those scheduled to testify
at the hearing are the governor's chief counsel Tasi Tuiteleleapaga,
Human Resources director Malu Mageo, and Treasurer Gaea Pelefoti
Failautusi.
Reach Fili
Sagapolutele at fili@samoanews.com.
Reach La Poasa at la@samoanews.com.
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